Every Woman's Bible Genesis sampler - Flipbook - Page 22
GENESIS 5
12
The Birth of Seth
Perspective
Does God okay the “forcible
taking” of women?
SCRIPTURE CONNECTION: GENESIS 6:1-8
What “sons of God” would forcibly take any
women they wanted to be their wives? This
doesn’t sound very godly at all.
Many scholars resolve this by concluding that
the “sons of God” phrasing refers to spiritual or
angelic beings who had rebelled against God.
Others suggest that it refers to human rulers
who married commoners. Still others argue that
it refers to descendants of Seth who married the
female descendants of Cain.
Regardless, we recognize that the sexual arena
has been a favorite playground for the enemy from
the time man and woman first knew their nakedness (3:7). At the birth of their shame, they covered
their sexual bodies with fig leaves.
This passage from Genesis 6 conceals whether
the human women were consenting to these
unions or were taken against their will. But one
thing is clear: This sexual deviancy wreaked havoc.
VIEWPOINTS
HERS: What does the phrase “took any they
wanted” suggest about how these “sons of God”
esteemed women and interacted with them?
MINE: “I am not a fan of the word victim—at
least with respect to many of my own experiences.
While I acknowledge its appropriate use when I
have been deceived, used, or harmed, I don’t want
to downplay any part of choice I may have had
in a matter: how I show up, how I respond, what
resources I turn to, whether an incident defines or
grows me, whether I reach for God or reject him. I
am not responsible for others’ choices, and sometimes I may not have a choice, but when I do, I can
ask, What choices will I make today?”
YOURS: How might you guard against sexual
trouble and champion sexual responsibility today?
MISTY ARTERBURN is an author and speaker, contributing to Bible projects, devotionals, and recovery
materials for over twenty years. Wife and mom to
five, Misty is the founder of Recovery Girls and the
general editor of The One Year Bible for Women.
Adam had sexual relations with his wife again, and
she gave birth to another son. She named him Seth,*
for she said, “God has granted me another son in
place of Abel, whom Cain killed.” 26 When Seth grew
up, he had a son and named him Enosh. At that time
people first began to worship the Lord by name.
25
The Descendants of Adam
5
This is the written account of the descendants of
Adam. When God created human beings,* he made
them to be like himself. 2He created them male and
female, and he blessed them and called them “human.”
When Adam was 130 years old, he became the
father of a son who was just like him—in his
very image. He named his son Seth. 4After the
birth of Seth, Adam lived another 800 years, and
he had other sons and daughters. 5Adam lived
930 years, and then he died.
6 When Seth was 105 years old, he became the father
of* Enosh. 7After the birth of* Enosh, Seth lived
another 807 years, and he had other sons and
daughters. 8Seth lived 912 years, and then he died.
9 When Enosh was 90 years old, he became the
father of Kenan. 10After the birth of Kenan, Enosh
lived another 815 years, and he had other sons
and daughters. 11Enosh lived 905 years, and then
he died.
12 When Kenan was 70 years old, he became
the father of Mahalalel. 13After the birth of
Mahalalel, Kenan lived another 840 years, and
he had other sons and daughters. 14 Kenan lived
910 years, and then he died.
15 When Mahalalel was 65 years old, he became
the father of Jared. 16After the birth of Jared,
Mahalalel lived another 830 years, and he had
other sons and daughters. 17Mahalalel lived
895 years, and then he died.
18 When Jared was 162 years old, he became the father
of Enoch. 19After the birth of Enoch, Jared lived
another 800 years, and he had other sons and
daughters. 20Jared lived 962 years, and then he died.
21 When Enoch was 65 years old, he became
the father of Methuselah. 22After the birth of
Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with
God for another 300 years, and he had other
3
4:25 Seth probably means “granted”; the name may also mean
“appointed.” 5:1 Or man; Hebrew reads adam; similarly in 5:2.
5:6 Or the ancestor of; also in 5:9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 25. 5:7 Or the
birth of this ancestor of; also in 5:10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 26.
5:1-3 This second biblical mention of the image of God helps
to define it. God made humans to be like him. Similarly, Adam
fathered a son who was just like him—in his very image. Our
identity as God’s image implies kinship. We are related to God
in a way analogous to a human family. This passage also affirms
that the human status as God’s image was not lost when Adam
and Eve sinned.
